Shimla's Got a Vibe (and Maybe a Few Ghosts?)
okay, so i’m back from shimla. and wow. just…wow. i’m a botanist, right? so i’m usually all about the ferns and the moss and the precise taxonomy of things. but shimla? shimla throws that whole system out the window. it’s beautiful, sure, but it’s also…chaotic. in a really good way. like a wildflower meadow after a storm.
I just checked and it's hovering around a crisp thirty-two degrees fahrenheit right now, with a humidity that feels like a damp hug. perfect for wandering around, honestly. i spent most of my time just…walking. up and down those ridiculously steep hills. my legs are screaming, but it was worth it.
I stayed in this tiny guesthouse near *ridge road. it was…rustic. let’s go with rustic. the plumbing was…an experience. but the view? incredible. you could see the whole valley spread out below. i found it on TripAdvisor, and the reviews were…mixed. someone told me that the hot water only worked sporadically, which, yeah, that was accurate. but the chai was amazing. seriously, the best chai i’ve had in ages.
Speaking of chai, i spent a ridiculous amount of time in cafes. there’s this one place, ‘Wake & Bake’ (don’t worry, it’s just a quirky name), that has the most incredible masala chai. I’m obsessed. You can check it out here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wake-and-bake-shimla.
I did a little exploring beyond the main tourist areas. stumbled upon this incredible little nursery tucked away on a hillside. the owner, a sweet old woman named Mrs. Sharma, showed me around. she knew the name of every single plant, and she had this amazing way of talking about them, like they were her children. i bought a few seedlings to bring home - hoping they’ll survive my less-than-ideal apartment conditions.
“Apparently, the old Viceregal Lodge is haunted. Locals say you can hear footsteps late at night.”
That’s what a drunk guy at the cafe told me. Apparently, it’s a classic ghost story. I didn’t go, though. I’m not really into that sort of thing. I’m more interested in the living plants, thank you very much. But it did add a certain…atmosphere to the evenings.
If you get bored, kullu and manali are just a short drive away. I didn't make it this time, but i'm already planning a return trip.
Here's a quick rundown of things i wish i'd known:
*Layers are your friend. Seriously. The temperature fluctuates wildly.
*Comfortable shoes are essential. Those hills are no joke.
*Learn a few basic hindi phrases. It goes a long way.
*Bargain respectfully. It’s expected, but be polite about it.
*Don’t drink the tap water. Just…don’t.
*Check out the local markets. They’re bursting with color and life. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g306253-d1172873-Reviews-Himachal_State_Museum-Shimla_Himachal_Pradesh.html
I overheard someone complaining about the traffic on mall road. Apparently, it gets really* bad during peak season. I was there during the shoulder season, so it wasn’t too terrible. But still…be prepared.
Oh! And one more thing. I found this amazing blog about the flora of the himalayas. It was super helpful for identifying some of the plants I saw: https://www.thebetterindia.com/134697/himalayan-flora-plants-flowers-himalayas/.
Shimla isn’t perfect. It’s a little rough around the edges. But that’s what makes it so charming. It’s real. It’s alive. And it’s definitely worth a visit. Just…pack your layers.
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